Tubing hanger orientation device

Abstract

A well completion system comprises a tubing head which includes a central bore that extends axially therethrough and at least one fluid port that extends through the tubing head to the central bore, a tubing hanger which is supported in the central bore, an alignment pin which is mounted in the fluid port and which comprises a key portion that protrudes into the central bore, and structure for engaging the key portion to orient the tubing hanger relative to the tubing head. In this arrangement a blind flange may be secured to the tubing head over the fluid port to effectively seal the fluid port from the environment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A well completion system which comprises: 
 a tubing head which includes a central bore that extends axially therethrough and at least one fluid port that extends through the tubing head to the central bore;    a tubing hanger which is supported in the central bore;    an alignment pin which is mounted in the fluid port and which comprises a key portion that protrudes into the central bore; and    means for engaging the key portion to orient the tubing hanger relative to the tubing head.    
     
     
         2 . The well completion system of  claim 1 , further comprising a blind flange which is secured to the tubing head over the fluid port.  
     
     
         3 . The well completion system of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve which is secured to the tubing head over the fluid port.  
     
     
         4 . The well completion system of  claim 3 , wherein the alignment pin is installed in the fluid port through the valve.  
     
     
         5 . The well completion system of  claim 1 , wherein the engaging means comprises an alignment slot which is formed on the tubing hanger.  
     
     
         6 . The well completion system of  claim 1 , wherein the engaging means comprises an alignment slot which is formed on an extension plate that is connected to the tubing hanger.  
     
     
         7 . The well completion system of  claim 6 , wherein the tubing hanger comprises at least one bore which extends longitudinally therethrough and the extension plate comprises a through hole which aligns with the bore when the extension plate is connected to the tubing hanger.  
     
     
         8 . The well completion system of  claim 7 , wherein the alignment slot is connected to the through hole.  
     
     
         9 . The well completion system of  claim 8 , wherein the extension plate is secured to the bottom of the tubing hanger.  
     
     
         10 . The well completion system of  claim 1 , wherein the engaging means comprises: 
 a guide sleeve which comprises an outer diameter surface, an inner diameter surface, a first alignment slot that is formed on the outer diameter surface, and an alignment key that is connected to the inner diameter surface; and    a second alignment slot which is formed on the tubing hanger;    wherein the key portion engages the first alignment slot to orient the guide sleeve relative to the tubing head and the alignment key engages the second alignment slot to orient the tubing hanger relative to the guide sleeve.    
     
     
         11 . The well completion system of  claim 10 , wherein the guide sleeve comprises a lip which extends radially inwardly from the inner diameter surface and a number of J-slots which extend axially through the lip.  
     
     
         12 . The well completion system of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a running and retrieval tool which comprises a number of lugs that are adapted to engage the J-slots;    wherein the running and retrieval tool may be used to install the guide sleeve in the tubing head and to orient the guide sleeve relative to the tubing head.    
     
     
         13 . The well completion system of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a wellhead housing which is positioned below the tubing head and which supports a casing hanger from which a casing string is suspended;    wherein the guide sleeve comprises an upper packoff member; and    wherein the upper packoff member is rotatably secured to a lower packoff member that seals between the wellhead housing and at least one of the casing hanger and the casing string.    
     
     
         14 . The well completion system of  claim 13 , wherein the upper packoff member is rotatable relative to the lower packoff member to bring the first alignment slot into engagement with the key portion.  
     
     
         15 . The well completion system of  claim 14 , wherein the upper packoff member comprises a lip which extends radially inwardly from the inner diameter surface and a number of J-slots which extend axially through the lip.  
     
     
         16 . The well completion system of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a running and retrieval tool which comprises a number of lugs that are adapted to engage the J-slots;    wherein the running and retrieval tool may be used to install the upper and lower packoff members and to orient the upper packoff member relative to the tubing head.    
     
     
         17 . The well completion system of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment pin further comprises a base portion which is removably securable in the fluid port, and the key portion extends axially from the base portion.  
     
     
         18 . The well completion system of  claim 17 , wherein the alignment pin further comprises an annular shoulder which is adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder in the fluid port to form a seal between the alignment pin and the fluid port.  
     
     
         19 . The well completion system of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment pin further comprises: 
 a base portion which is removably securable in the fluid port;    an axial stem which is connected to the base portion;    wherein the key portion is slidably supported on the stem; and    means for biasing the key portion away from the base portion and toward the central bore of the tubing head.    
     
     
         20 . The well completion system of  claim 19 , wherein the biasing means comprises a spring which is mounted over the stem between the base portion and the key portion.  
     
     
         21 . The well completion system of  claim 19 , wherein the alignment pin further comprises means for limiting the movement of the key portion into the central bore of the tubing head.  
     
     
         22 . The well completion system of  claim 21 , wherein the limiting means comprises a washer which is secured to an end of the stem opposite the base portion and which engages a corresponding shoulder formed on an inner diameter surface of the key portion.  
     
     
         23 . The well completion system of  claim 19 , wherein the alignment pin further comprises an annular shoulder which is formed adjacent the base portion and which is adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder in the fluid port to form a seal between the base portion and the fluid port.  
     
     
         24 . The well completion system of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment pin further comprises: 
 a generally tubular sleeve member which is securable in the fluid port; and    an elongated pin member which is supported in the sleeve member and which comprises the key portion adjacent one end thereof;    wherein the pin member is axially movable relative to the sleeve member to bring the key portion into or out of the central bore of the tubing head.    
     
     
         25 . The well completion system of  claim 24 , wherein the pin member comprises a threaded outer diameter section and the sleeve member comprises a threaded inner diameter section which is adapted to engage the threaded outer diameter section, wherein rotation of the pin member relative to the sleeve member will move the pin member axially relative to the sleeve member.  
     
     
         26 . The well completion system of  claim 25 , wherein the pin member further comprises a tool preparation which is formed adjacent an end opposite the key portion.  
     
     
         27 . The well completion system of  claim 24 , wherein the sleeve member further comprises an annular shoulder which is adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder in the fluid port to form a seal between the sleeve member and the fluid port.  
     
     
         28 . The well completion system of  claim 27 , further comprising means for sealing between the pin member and the sleeve member.  
     
     
         29 . The well completion system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a wellhead housing which is positioned below the tubing head and which supports a casing hanger from which a casing string is suspended; and    a packoff assembly which comprises a lower packoff member that seals between the wellhead housing and at least one of the casing hanger and the casing string and an upper packoff member that is rotatably secured to the lower packoff member;    wherein the engaging means comprises the upper packoff member and a first alignment slot which is formed on the tubing hanger;    wherein the upper packoff member comprises an outer diameter surface, an inner diameter surface, a second alignment slot that is formed on the outer diameter surface, and an alignment key that is connected to the inner diameter surface;    wherein the key portion engages the second alignment slot to orient the upper packoff member relative to the tubing head and the alignment key engages the first alignment slot to orient the tubing hanger relative to the upper packoff member.    
     
     
         30 . The well completion system of  claim 29 , wherein the alignment pin further comprises: 
 a base portion which is removably securable in the fluid port;    an axial stem which is connected to the base portion;    wherein the key portion is slidably supported on the stem; and    means for biasing the key portion away from the base portion and toward the central bore of the tubing head.    
     
     
         31 . The well completion system of  claim 30 , wherein the upper packoff member is rotatable relative to the lower packoff member to bring the second alignment slot into alignment with the key portion, whereupon the key portion will extend into the second alignment slot to thereby maintain the upper packoff member properly oriented relative to the tubing head.  
     
     
         32 . The well completion system of  claim 31 , wherein the biasing means comprises a spring which is mounted over the stem between the base portion and the key portion.  
     
     
         33 . The well completion system of  claim 31 , wherein the alignment pin further comprises an annular shoulder which is formed adjacent the base portion and which is adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder in the fluid port to form a seal between the base portion and the fluid port.  
     
     
         34 . A well completion system which comprises: 
 a tubing head which includes a central bore that extends axially therethrough and a hole that extends through the tubing head to the central bore;    a tubing hanger which is supported in the central bore;    an alignment pin which comprises a base portion that is removably securable in hole, an axial stem that is connected to the base portion, a key portion that is slidably supported on the stem, and means for biasing the key portion away from the base portion and toward the central bore; and    means for engaging the key portion to orient the tubing hanger relative to the tubing head.    
     
     
         35 . The well completion system of  claim 34 , wherein the biasing means comprises a spring which is mounted over the stem between the base portion and the key portion.  
     
     
         36 . The well completion system of  claim 34 , wherein the alignment pin further comprises means for limiting the movement of the key portion into the central bore.  
     
     
         37 . The well completion system of  claim 36 , wherein the limiting means comprises a washer which is secured to an end of the stem opposite the base portion and which engages a corresponding shoulder formed on an inner diameter surface of the key portion.  
     
     
         38 . The well completion system of  claim 34 , wherein the alignment pin further comprises an annular shoulder which is formed adjacent the base portion and which is adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder in the hole to form a seal between the base portion and the hole.  
     
     
         39 . The well completion system of  claim 34 , wherein the engaging means comprises an alignment slot which is formed on the tubing hanger.  
     
     
         40 . The well completion system of  claim 34 , wherein the engaging means comprises an alignment slot which is formed on an extension plate that is connected to the tubing hanger.  
     
     
         41 . The well completion system of  claim 34 , wherein the engaging means comprises: 
 a guide sleeve which comprises an outer diameter surface, an inner diameter surface, a first alignment slot that is formed on the outer diameter surface, and an alignment key that is connected to the inner diameter surface; and    a second alignment slot which is formed on the tubing hanger;    wherein the key portion engages the first alignment slot to orient the guide sleeve relative to the tubing head and the alignment key engages the second alignment slot to orient the tubing hanger relative to the guide sleeve.    
     
     
         42 . The well completion system of  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 a wellhead housing which is positioned below the tubing head and which supports a casing hanger from which a casing string is suspended;    wherein the guide sleeve comprises an upper packoff member; and    wherein the upper packoff member is rotatably secured to a lower packoff member that seals between the wellhead housing and at least one of the casing hanger and the casing string.